During Collinson’s time at home, his fitness videos on social media have grown in popularity.
versatile. In search of a wider range of exercises, Collinson turned to his kettlebells. Less familiar to him, these accessories inspired Collinson to explore new movements, which kept him motivated. Fall brought colder weather, which forced Collinson to change up his routine. His heated basement offered a more comfortable workout space, but the smaller area limited the equipment he could use. “I can’t really bring my barbell and plates down there,” he says. So Collinson increased his kettlebell workouts and added stretch-rubber bands to his arsenal. He turned it into a game: “What can you do to feel like you’re getting some exercise with the least amount of things?” Though he has enjoyed the challenge of modifying his workouts to fit whatever space he can find, in December, Collinson began building a weatherproof, indoor gym in his backyard. “I think having that dedicated space is so important,” he says. The new setup will allow him to use everything from barbells to bands. Collinson will also have access to a squat rack for the first time since he canceled his gym membership back in March. Now that snow has returned to the Wasatch Range, Collinson has turned his energy back to his first love. “More than anything, I’m excited to have snow locally again and just be out exploring,” he says. “My whole professional career has been spent on the road, so there are so many places that I’ve never been, right here at home.” Over the long term, Collinson is determined to keep building on the fitness knowledge he’s gained this past year.
JOHNNY COLLINSON FREESKIER
NATE CAHOON(2), RAINER HOSCH
A
lifetime in the mountains has schooled freeskier Johnny Collinson in adapting to unpredictable conditions. This past year has tested those skills, as Collinson shifted from chasing big-mountain powder runs all over the world to staying fit at home in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Two ACL replacement surgeries had sparked an interest in fitness, and in 2020, Collinson doubled down and began working toward a degree in exercise science.
THE RED BULLETIN
“It’s been cool to keep learning,” the 28-year-old Collinson says. “It has become a really cohesive thing that’s helped me come up with tangible goals for skiing using this education I’m getting through fitness.” During the summer, the warm weather meant that Collinson could use his garage as a workout space. “I bought barbells and kettlebells,” he says. “I was really stoked to have a barbell and weight plates for that specific training.” But he found that setup wasn’t especially 39
